Skip to main content
May 13, 2016

Big Ideas Night at Random House with WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR

Comments
By Rebecca Munro
Tagged:
On Monday night, I had the pleasure of attending Random House’s seventh Big Ideas Night --- the latest in the series, which offers readers a forum for conversations between writers and editors of popular, recently released books.

Louise Erdrich, author of LaRose

Hunting along the edge of his property, Landreaux Iron accidentally kills his neighbor's five-year-old son, Dusty Ravich. Horrified at what he’s done, the recovered alcoholic turns to an Ojibwe tribe tradition --- the sweat lodge --- for guidance and finds a way forward. Following an ancient means of retribution, he and his wife, Emmaline, will give their son, LaRose, to Dusty's grieving parents.

Read more »

Richard Russo, author of Everybody's Fool

In this long-awaited follow-up to 1993’s NOBODY’S FOOL, the irresistible Sully is staring down a cardiologist’s estimate that he has only a year or two left. It’s hard work trying to keep this news from the most important people in his life: Ruth, the married woman he carried on with for years; the ultra-hapless Rub Squeers, who worries that he and Sully aren’t still best friends; and Sully’s son and grandson, for whom he was mostly an absentee figure (and now a regretful one).

Read more »

Don DeLillo, author of Zero K

Jeffrey Lockhart’s father, Ross, is a billionaire in his 60s, with a younger wife, Artis Martineau, whose health is failing. Ross is the primary investor in a remote and secret compound where death is exquisitely controlled and bodies are preserved until a future time when biomedical advances and new technologies can return them to a life of transcendent promise. Jeff joins Ross and Artis at the compound to say “an uncertain farewell” to her as she surrenders her body.

Read more »

The Audie Awards 2016

The Audio Publishers Association (APA) has announced the winners of the 2016 Audie Awards®, the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.

Read more »

Comte de Mirabeau

I would not exchange my leisure hours for all the wealth in the world.

Attribution

Comte de Mirabeau

Which fiction titles releasing in May are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.

May 12, 2016, 692 voters

Kimberly McCreight, author of The Outliers

Read more »

John Corey Whaley, author of Highly Illogical Behavior

Read more »

Editorial Content for Highly Illogical Behavior

Book

Highly Illogical Behavior

Contributors

Bryn D.

Reviewer (text)

Bryn D., Teen Board Member

Solomon Reed has not left his house in three years, not since stripping down to his boxers his 8th grade year and slowly lowering himself into the school fountain. Now he has panic attacks almost daily at even the thought of venturing into the outside world. Read More

Teaser

Sixteen-year-old Solomon is agoraphobic. He hasn’t left the house in three years, which is fine by him. Ambitious Lisa desperately wants to get into the second-best psychology program for college (she’s being realistic). But how can she prove she deserves a spot there? Solomon is the answer. Determined to “fix” Sol, Lisa thrusts herself into his life, introducing him to her charming boyfriend Clark and confiding her fears in him. Soon, all three teens are far closer than they thought they’d be, and when their facades fall down, their friendships threaten to collapse, as well.

Promo

Sixteen-year-old Solomon is agoraphobic. He hasn’t left the house in three years, which is fine by him. Ambitious Lisa desperately wants to get into the second-best psychology program for college (she’s being realistic). But how can she prove she deserves a spot there? Solomon is the answer. Determined to “fix” Sol, Lisa thrusts herself into his life, introducing him to her charming boyfriend Clark and confiding her fears in him. Soon, all three teens are far closer than they thought they’d be, and when their facades fall down, their friendships threaten to collapse, as well.

About the Book

Teen and adult fans of AL LTHE BRIGHT PLACES, ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL, and EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING will adore this quirky story of coming-of-age, coming out, friendship, love...and agoraphobia.

Sixteen-year-old Solomon is agoraphobic. He hasn’t left the house in three years, which is fine by him.

Ambitious Lisa desperately wants to get into the second-best psychology program for college (she’s being realistic). But how can she prove she deserves a spot there?

Solomon is the answer.

Determined to “fix” Sol, Lisa thrusts herself into his life, introducing him to her charming boyfriend Clark and confiding her fears in him. Soon, all three teens are far closer than they thought they’d be, and when their facades fall down, their friendships threaten to collapse, as well. 

A hilarious and heartwarming coming-of-age perfect for readers of Matthew Quick and Rainbow Rowell, HIGHLY ILLOGICAL BEHAVIOR showcases the different ways in which we hide ourselves from the world --- and the ways in which love, tragedy and the need for connection may be the only things to bring us back into the light.

Audiobook available, narrated by Robbie Daymond and Julia Whelan.